In August 2015, California became the first state to ban the use of grand juries to indict officers for police shooting cases. Although this makes it easier to convict officers criminally of misconduct involving shootings, winning a civil case against an officer or police department is still an uphill battle.

But these cases do have many victories in Los Angeles for the grieving families of victims of police violence. In April 2015, the City of Los Angeles settled for $5.3 million to the family of an unarmed man shot to death by police in Compton. With the help of one of our skilled police misconduct attorneys, families can receive massive payments for damages and receive the justice they deserve for these horribly unfortunate incidences.

Wrongful Death Cases for Police Shootings

An officer should only draw and fire his or her service weapon as a last resort and only under the threat of death or severe bodily harm. But if an officer negligently or intentionally kills a citizen with a firearm in an unjustifiable way, the victim’s family can seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.

In order to file a lawsuit and prompt a police shooting inquiry, you must first file a notice of a Government Claim with the police agency within six months of the shooting. Only after the notice of claim has been filed can you file for a lawsuit, at most six months after the notice of claim and one year after the shooting incident.

Once the lawsuit begins, it is important to seek the counsel of our experienced police misconduct lawyers and to gather the appropriate evidence pertaining to the case. Some police departments will do all they can to make sure some of the details of the incident disappear, so it is up to you to fight to ensure all necessary information comes to light.

Speak to a Los Angeles Police Misconduct Attorney

Your wrongful death attorney is here to assist you following a police-involved wrongful death of a family member or loved one. With offices in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Irvine and Riverside, we have the knowledge and expertise to seek justice for your deceased family member. Contact us today for a free consultation.